Single gesture map navigation graphical user interface for a personal digital assistant

Abstract

An application on a personal digital assistant (PDA) displays a map. A graphical user interface permits the application to receive single gesture inputs of a stylus. If the single gesture input comprises a drag of the stylus a minimum distance, the map is panned such that the map is shifted to a new center view. The displayed map may contain one or more map objects. If the input comprises a single tap on a specific map object, the map object under the tap may be selected and highlighted. Further, a ToolTip for the map object may be displayed. A further tap of the ToolTip may result in the navigation to a link or URL associated with the map object selected. One or more zoom buttons may also be displayed. If a zoom button is tapped by the user, the map may be displayed in a different level of detail.

1. A method for map navigation using a graphical user interface on a personal digital assistant (PDA) comprising:
 displaying a map on a display screen of a PDA; 
 receiving a single gesture input from a user into the PDA, wherein the single gesture input comprises a drag of a stylus across the display screen, and wherein the drag of the stylus allows the graphical user interface to distinguish between desired user operations; 
 determining whether the stylus has been dragged a minimum distance; and 
 if the stylus has been dragged a minimum distance and in response to the drag, panning the map in accordance with the drag such that the map is shifted to a new center view, wherein an edge of the map cannot be panned beyond a center of a view. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the map may be panned until an edge of the map is reached. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the panning returns a view of the map to a designated target point. 
     
     
       4. A method for map navigation using a graphical user interface on a personal digital assistant (PDA) comprising:
 displaying a map having one or more map objects on a display screen of a PDA; 
 receiving a single gesture input from a user into the PDA, wherein the single gesture input comprises a single tap of a stylus on a specific map object, and wherein actions of the single gesture input allow the graphical user interface to distinguish between desired user operations; and 
 in response to the single tap:
 selecting and highlighting the map object under the tap; and 
 displaying a tooltip for the map object. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  further comprising:
 receiving a second single gesture input from a user into the PDA, wherein the second single gesture input comprises a single tap of the stylus on the tooltip; and 
 displaying a report for the map object in response to the single tap on the tooltip. 
 
     
     
       6. A method for map navigation using a graphical user interface on a personal digital assistant (PDA) comprising:
 displaying a map on a display screen of a PDA; 
 displaying a zoom button on the display screen of the PDA; 
 receiving a single gesture input from a user into the PDA, wherein the single gesture input comprises a single tap by a stylus of the zoom button, and wherein actions of the single gesture input allow the graphical user interface to distinguish between desired user operations; and 
 displaying the map on the display screen of the PDA with a different level of detail. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  wherein the different level of detail is a more detailed view of the map than originally displayed. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6  wherein the different level of detail is a less detailed view of the map than originally displayed. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6  wherein the zoom button is only displayed if a display of a different level of derail is available. 
     
     
       10. A system for navigating a map using a graphical user interface on a personal digital assistant (PDA) comprising:
 (a) a personal digital assistant (PDA); 
 (b) an application launched on the PDA, the application configured to:
 (i) display a map on a display screen of the PDA; 
 (ii) receive a single gesture input from a user into the PDA, wherein the single gesture input comprises a drag of a stylus across the display screen, and wherein the drag of the stylus allows the graphical user interface to distinguish between desired user operations; 
 (iii) determine whether the stylus has been dragged a minimum distance; and 
 (iv) if the stylus has been dragged a minimum distance and in response to the drag, pan the map in accordance with the drag such that the map is shifted to a new center view, wherein an edge of the map cannot be panned beyond a center of a view. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10  wherein the map may be panned until an edge of the map is reached. 
     
     
       12. A system for navigating a map using a graphical user interface on a personal digital assistant (PDA) comprising:
 (a) a personal digital assistant (PDA); 
 (b) an application launched on the PDA, the application configured to:
 (i) display a map having one or more map objects on a display screen of a PDA; 
 (ii) receive a single gesture input from a user into the PDA, wherein the single gesture input comprises a single tap of a stylus on a specific map object, and wherein actions of the single gesture input allow the graphical user interface to distinguish between desired user operations; and 
 (iii) in response to the single tap:
 (1) select and highlighting the map object under the tap; and 
 (2) display a tooltip for the map object. 
 
 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , the application further configured to:
 receive a second single gesture input from a user into the PDA, wherein the second single gesture input comprises a single tap of the stylus on the tooltip; and 
 display a report for the map object in response to the single tap on the tooltip. 
 
     
     
       14. A system for navigating a map using a graphical user interface on a personal digital assistant (PDA) comprising:
 (a) a personal digital assistant (PDA); 
 (b) an application launched on the PDA, the application configured to:
 (i) display a map on a display screen of a PDA; 
 (ii) display a zoom button on the display screen of the PDA; 
 (iii) receive a single gesture input from a user into the PDA, wherein the single gesture input comprises a single tap by a stylus of the zoom button, and wherein actions of the single gesture input allow the graphical user interface to distinguish between desired user operations; and 
 (iv) display the map on the display screen of the PDA with a different level of derail. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14  wherein the different level of detail is a more detailed view of the map than originally displayed. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 14  wherein the different level of detail is a less detailed view of the map than originally displayed. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 14  wherein the zoom button is only displayed if a display of a different level of detail is available. 
     
     
       18. An article of manufacture for navigating maps using a graphical user interface on a personal digital assistant (PDA) comprising:
 means for displaying a map on a display screen of a PDA; 
 means for receiving a single gesture input from a user into the PDA, wherein the single gesture input comprises a drag of a stylus across the display screen, and wherein the drag of the stylus allows the graphical user interface to distinguish between desired user operations; 
 means for determining whether the stylus has been dragged a minimum distance; and 
 means for panning the map in accordance with the drag such that the map is shifted to a new center view if the stylus has been dragged a minimum distance, wherein an edge of the map cannot be panned beyond a center of a view. 
 
     
     
       19. The article of manufacture of  claim 18  wherein the map may be panned until an edge of the map is reached. 
     
     
       20. An article of manufacture for navigating maps using a graphical user interface on a personal digital assistant (PDA) comprising:
 means for displaying a map having one or more map objects on a display screen of a PDA; 
 means for receiving a single gestate input from a user into the PDA, wherein the single gesture input comprises a single tap of a stylus on a specific map object, and wherein actions of the single gesture input allow the graphical user interface to distinguish between desired user operations; 
 means for selecting and highlighting the map object under the tap in response to the single tap; and 
 means for displaying a tooltip for the map object in response to the single tap. 
 
     
     
       21. The article of manufacture of  claim 20  further comprising:
 means for receiving a second single gesture input from a user into the PDA, wherein the second single gesture input comprises a single tap of the stylus on the tooltip; and 
 means for displaying a report for the map object in response to the single tap on the tooltip. 
 
     
     
       22. An article of manufacture for navigating maps using a graphical user interface on a personal digital assistant (PDA) comprising:
 means for displaying a map on a display screen of a PDA; 
 means for displaying a zoom button on the display screen of the PDA; 
 means for receiving a single gesture input from a user into the PDA, wherein the single gesture input comprises a single tap by a stylus of the zoom button, and wherein actions of the single gesture input allow the graphical user interface to distinguish between desired user operations; 
 means for displaying the map on the display screen of the PDA with a different level of detail. 
 
     
     
       23. The article of manufacture of  claim 22  wherein the different level of detail is a more detailed view of the map than originally displayed. 
     
     
       24. The article of manufacture of  claim 22  wherein the different level of detail is a less detailed view of the map than originally displayed. 
     
     
       25. The article of manufacture of  claim 22  wherein the zoom button is only displayed if a display of a different level of detail is available. 
     
     
       26. A method for map navigation using a graphical user interface on a personal digital assistant (PDA) comprising:
 (a) displaying a map on a display screen of a PDA; 
 (b) receiving a single gesture input from a user into the PDA; 
 (c) evaluating the single gesture input to determine if a stylus has been dragged across a display screen a distance; 
 (d) if the stylus has been dragged at least the minimum distance;
 (i) determining that a user desires to conduct a panning operation; and 
 (ii) panning the map in accordance with the drag such that the map is shifted to a new center view; and 
 
 (e) if the stylus has not been dragged the minimum distance:
 (i) determining that the user desired to conduct a map object selection operation in a form of a single tap of the stylus on a specific map object; and 
 (ii) performing a map object selection operation based on the specific map object tapped. 
 
 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26  wherein the map object selection operation comprises displaying a tooltip for the specific map object tapped. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 26  wherein:
 the specific map object comprises a zoom button; and 
 the map object selection operation comprises displaying the map on the display screen of the PDA with a different level of detail.